142 Inhumane Methods of Warfare. After this the non-com., without any examination was sentenced to 15 days solitary confinement and led off to prison. Eight days later the French sergeant reported his death. It is uncertain -whether he was shot or died in consequence of the ill-treatment." The wish expressed in the 1st Edition for a complete investigation of this "Case of Frank" will be fulfilled. A careful special memorial of the Prussian Ministry of War relating to this Frank Case on the grounds of sworn testimony, which lies before me, has revealed the full unreliability of the French Government, which sent a verbal note on the case to the American Ambassador on the 15th of December 1914, claiming that the affair was untrue. In a fashion as correct as it was individual, the memorial protested against the untruthfulness of the French Government, which did not hesitate to deceive the neutral countries, and to cover up the atrocious conditions proved as existing at Clermont-Ferrand. We have already indicated in the foregoing the brutal treatment meted out to the German prisoners by the French mob. When these men were made prisoners, it happened at the same time that a Bavarian munition column was captured in a hollow road by French Alpine Chasseurs, that is to say by some of the crack troops of the'French army. After the negotiations with regard to the surrender had taken place between the Frenchmen and the captured German officers, these as well as the substitute officers and some twenty or thirty soldiers were locked up in a shed. During the servingout of water at night, a light happened to be struck in the shed. The French without a word of warning began to fire into the shed. A captured Bavarian Captain was mortally wounded; he gave a loud cry: "My wife and children! Goodbye!" and fell over dead. Two other prisoners were wounded. The prisoners were forced to spend the whole night with the dead man, and the two wounded without being able to move a hand. Not a soul troubled itself about them, as they lay pent in the dark shed. Thus does the grande nation treat the prisoners and the wounded of its opponents! The testimony respecting this incident was given by one of the wounded men. Inasmuch as they are most characteristic a few passages

Inhumane Methods of Warfare. 143 from the statement made by the clergyman B., who had been taken prisoner in violation of Article 9 of the 2nd Geneva Convention, and who has already been mentioned in the foregoing, as quoted in the "Kôlnische Zeitung" may not be inappropriate: "I found that there were still about 38 German prisoners there. Finally (after 2 days) each of us received a piece of French biscuit which was, of course, as hard as stone. No water was given us. The prisoners asked for water. "No!" was the short and decisive answer of the stern-faced monsieur le Commandant. It was a sorry plight. Here on the floor, leaning against the walls of the prison, sat the poor captives. They were dying of thirst, for the weather was torrid and they had been forced to make tremendous marches. Opposite them, at a distance of not more than 4 yards, there was a well with water. French soldiers made use of this to refresh themselves and their horses. The Germans ask for a drink and their answer was the gruff refusal of the Commandant. When one of the soldiers rose and ventured to approach a full bucket, he was pushed back. "When I made my request to be examined and dismissed to-day, I received a smiling, affirmative answer. I was soon to learn what this meant. About ten o'clock we were all forced to form into line, in fours, I as a Catholic priest in Catholic France at the head. Gendarmes surround us and the order was given: "Forward March!" We went past the French troops and were compelled to hear their ridicule and mockery..." This reverend gentleman proceeds to describe the behavior of the dehumanized populace. It is the same story everywhere : derision, insults and acts of violence. This priest was treated like a felon. After the fifth day of his captivity, the authorities at last consented to hold an examination. All his possessions, pocketknife, papers, linen, money, rosary and crucifix were taken from him, even his suspenders were torn from his clothes. The official Red Cross armlet, stamped by the authorities, was ripped from his sleeve. Amass of abuses of all international agreements! Not the slightest respect shown for those rules and regulations which all the civilized nations have pledged themselves to observe